Machine-driving means.



P. E. CLARK.

MACHINE DRIVING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1910.

. Patented Sept6,191(1 2 BHEETB?BHEBT 1.

P. E. CLARK. MACHINE DRIVING MEANS. LP PLIGATION FILED JUNE 11 1910.

\ Patented Sept. 6, .1910.

' 2 SHEETSBHBBT z.

STATES rarnntr onmonmarries a. man, or ELKINS, wnsr vmemm."

To all itmiiifcoacemsi v Be it known that'I,: PRnNT1en E. CLARK, acitizen of the United States, residing at Elkins, in the county ofRandolph and State which is separately connected with a gang of machinesarranged in tandem, and'which has a further connection with the shaft ofa motor or other prime mover; the latter con.- nection, wherein thatinvention primarily resides, is such as to effect a .predeterminednumber of revolutions of the drive shaft first in one direction and thenin the other, thereby imparting the desired alternating rotary movementto the operating elements of the machines. This constructlon, however,116;

cessitates ,a simultaneous reversal of all of said elements inconsequence whereof the drive shaft is subjected at each reversal to thefull force of the shock and stress incidental to such reversal; eventhough the same be comparatively gradual, and as a result the wear andtear upon the partsreaches a high degree, and the efi'ective life of theapparatus is proportionately decreased.

In order to overcome the afore-mentioned defects, I propose to utilize adriving system wherein each machine has an individual gear connectionwith the drive shaft, which latter is given a continuous rotarymovement, the cam elements of the several gear connections being sotimed as to entail a successive reversal of the operating elements ofthe machines, in contradistinction to the simultaneous reversal of thecoresponding elements in the patented construction. By this means, theshock is. distributed evenly, throughout the drive shaft, and istransmitted thereto in the form of a series of successive shocks ofcomparatively small force, which can be readily resisted. Again, wherethe drive shaft itself is reversed as in the earlier construction, thenumber of machines which can be efi'ectlvely connected thereto isnecessarily limited, since the entire load is borne at one time by saidshaft, Whereas Specification otLetters Patent. Application iiled June11, 1910. Se ria1.No..566,403.-

MACHINE-DRIVING mamas. i

PatentediSejpt. 6, 1910.

such number may be readily increased when the load is divided, asjin'the' present instance, and is evenly distributed.

A structural embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is afront. elevation of a gang of machines with said inventionapplied there- .to.' Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig: 1, a

part of one of the machines being broken away. Fig. 3 is an enlarged'sideelevation of the improved transmisslon gear, the cover of theclutch box being omitted. Figs. 4 and 5 are, res ectively, vertical andhorizontal sections 0- Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one ofthe clutchboxesfshowingone of the clutch-operating members and theadjacent cover separated from the box.

In said drawings, as in those of my prior patent, above identified, theinvention is illustrated as applied to a gang of washing machines,although such application, while peculiarly advantageous, is notobligatory.

These machines are arranged in tandem, and are. generally designated bythe numeral 1.

They are driven, as hereinafter described,

from the main shaft 2, which is driven, in turn, from the motor3, theshaft 4. of the motor .having fixed thereto a ear 5 in mesh with alarger gear 6 on sha t 2. The arrangement is such, therefore, that acontinuous rotary movement is imparted to said shaft.

As originally stated, there is provided an individual reversing gearconnection between each machine and the drive shaft. In the presentconstruction, each of these connections comprises a vertical shaft 7mountedv in an open U-shaped frame 8 secured to the machine frame 9,said shaft being provided at opposite ends with a pair of gears 10 and-11, the former of which meshes with and is driven by a gear 12 fast onthe drive shaft, there being a separate gear on the drive shaft for eachmachinefas will be understood. Gear 11 meshes, in turn, with a pair ofgears 13 and 14 which it drives'in 0pposite directions, these gearsbeingloosely mounted on a horizontal shaft 15 likewise journaled in frame 8.Shaft 15 has secured thereto a gear 16 which drives, with or without theaid of an intermediate gear 17 shown,) secured to the machine shaft are.niovement is imparted to the transmission shaft and thence to themachine shaft.

This device preferably comprises a pair of clutch members 22 and 23splined on shaft 15 and designed for coaction, respectively,

'with said gears 13 and 14 which are formed with recesses 24 and 25wherein the clutch members are designed to seat. The said clutch membersare operated by a pair of shifter carriages or shifters 26 mounted opposite each other in a two-part clutch-box 27. (See Fig. 6.) Theseshifters are in the form of yokes, the stems 28 of which are providedwith iii-turned ends 29 engaging in recesses 30 in the hubs of theclutch members; they are actuated by means of earns 31 fast upon thehubs of a. pair of gears 32 inclosed within the clutch box and mountedupon horizontal shafts 83 carried in said box. Gears 32 mesh with a.pair of gears 34: and 35 secured to the inner ends of shafts 7 and 21,and the cams 31 which are rigid with the first-mentioned gears Work inthe yoke portions of the shifters and against *resp'onding loose gears.

' pairs of rollers 36 seated in recesses in opposite sides of saidyokes. By virtue of this arrangement, it will be observed, withreference to any particular machine, that when the drive shaft'2 isrunning, its motion Will.-

consequence, be rotated and will impart an endwise reciprocatorymovement to the clutch shifters 26. which, on being actuated,

will move first one and then the other of" said clutch members intoengagement-with the companion clutch faces of the cor- As a result, theshaft 15 will be rotated first in one direction and then in the other,which movement will be transmitted to the machine shaft 19 through thegears 16, 17 and 18. Considering the apparatus as a whole, it will beapparent therefore that the main drive shaft is given a continuousrotary movement which is transformed into alternating rotary movementand transmitted to each of the several machines individually. It Will'also be understood that the periods of reversal of the gearings withrelation to each other directly control the forbeof the-shock or shocksto which the main drive shaft is subjected; that is to say, if all ofthe machines reverse simultaneously, a single shock of full force willbe imparted to the shaft, Whereas if two machines reverse at one time,and three at another, two separate shockswill be imparted to said shaft,each of which is of less than full force, and one of which is of lessforce than the other. The relation of these periods to each other isobviously dependent Wholly uponthe timing of the cams 31 and the latterare so timed, according to' this invention, as to effect a reversal ofthe machines in succession so that the shaft will be subjected to amaximum number of shocks, each ofa minimum force, which can be readilyresisted, since such arrangement entails an even' distribution of stressthroughout the shaft; For the same reason, it will be obvious that agreater number of machines can be effectively connected tothe driveshaft, if reversed individually and in succession, than if reversedsimultaneously, for in the latter instance the shaft is subjected to theload of all the machines at once, and in the for mer instance theloads'are exertedin succession upon said shaft. I

Vith reference to the clutch-box '27, wherein the shifters 26 ands-thecam-carrying gears 32 are arranged, it may be stated that the outersides of the two sections or members thereof are formed with seats 37 inwhich said gears and the yoke portions ,of said shifters are disposed,and that the inner sides of said members are formed with matingsemi-cylindrical depressions 38 which unite in producing the borethrough which shaft 15 passes. The two shifters are held againstdisplacement by means of the covers 39 which close seats 37 and also thepairs of seats 40 through which the yoke stems 28 project. The shafts33,.

whereon gears 32 are mounted, are supported at their outer ends in'bearings 41 formed on said covers, and at their inner ends in aliningopenings 42 in the box mem-' bers.- In like manner, the inner ends ofthe two shafts 7 and 21 are journaled in mating depressions 43 formed inthe inner faces of the box members at right angles to theafore-mentioned depressions 38.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of a plurality of machines, each including a driveshaft; a single continuously rotating main drive shaftfor all of saidmachines; and individual gear connections between the main drive shaftand the shaft of each machine for automatically and periodicallyreversing thedirection of rotation of each machine shaft.

2. The combination of a plurality of ma- I chines, each including adriveshaft; a single continuously rotating inain drive shaft for all ofsaid machines; and gear connections between the main drive shaft and allof the machine shafts for periodically reversing the latter shafts insuccession.

3. The combination of a plurality of machines, each including a driveshaft; a single continuously rotating'main drive shaft for all of saidmachines; and individual gearing interposed between the main drive shaftand each machine shaft and rotated continuously from the former shaft,each gearing including means for automatically and periodicallyreversing the direction of rotation of the corresponding machine shaft.

4. The combination of a plurality of machines, each includingia Kiriveshaft; a single continuously rotating main drive shaft for all'of saidmachines; anruvndividual gearing interposed between the main drive shaftand each machine shaft and rotated continuously from the former shaft,each gearing including means for automatically and periodicallyreversing the direction of rotation of the corresponding machine shaft,and a cam for actuating said means, the cams of all of said gearingsbein timed to effect the reversal of the inachlne'shafts successively.

In transmission gearing of the type set forth, the combination of adriven shaft; a pair of oppositely rotatable gears mounted thereon, eachgear having a clutch face; a pair of rotatable clutch elements mountedon said shaft for driving the same, each of said elements being arrangedfor coaction with the clutch face of the adjacent gear; a clutch box; anaxially-movable shifter mounted in said box and having its ends engagedwith said elements; and means for reciprocating said shifter.

6. In transmission gearing of the type set forth, the combination of adriven shaft; a pair of oppositely rotatable gears mounted thereon, eachgear having a clutch face; a pair of rotatable clutch elements mountedon said shaft for driving the same, each of said elements being arrangedfor coaction with the clutch face of the adjacent gear; a clutch box; anaxially-movable shifter mounted in said box and having its ends engagedwith said elements; and a cam rotatably mounted in said box and engagdwith said shifter,

for imparting a reciprocatory movement to the latter.

7. In transmission gearing of the type set forth, the combination of adriven shaft; a pair of oppositely rotatable gears mounted thereon, eachgear having a clutch faces a pair of rotatable clutch elements mountedon said shaft for driving the same, each of said elements being arrangedfor coaction with the clutch face of the adjacent gear and beingprovided with a recessed portion;

a shifter comprising a yoke-like body poi? tion, and a pair ofoppositely extending stems engaged with said elements; and a rotatablecam disposed within said yoke, for imparting a reciprocatory movement tothe latter.

9. In transmission gearing of the type set forth, the combination of adriven shaft; a. pair of oppositely rotatable gears mounted thereon andhaving common direct driving means, each gear having a clutch face; apair of rotatable clutch elements mounted on said shaft for driving thesame, each of said elements being arranged for coaction with the clutchface of the adjacent gear; a clutch box; a reciprocatory shifte" mountedtherein and engaged with said elements; a gear disposed in said box;means for rotating said gear from the driving means; and a rotatable camrigid on said gear for actuating said shifter.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing wit nesses.

PREN'IICE E. CLARK.

Witnesses:

J S. LINGAMFELTER, Bnn'rrm FLoREN'rINA.

